The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three-day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September. The Land Rover Freelander Burghley Horse Trial is classified by the FEI as one of the six leading three-day events in the world (the others being the Badminton Horse Trials, the Rolex Kentucky Three Day, the Australian International Three Day Event, the Luhmühlen Horse Trials and the Étoiles de Pau). It has competition at CCI**** (four star) level. The prize for first place is currently £50,000. Prize money is given down to 20th place.
Burghley is also one of the three events in the Grand Slam of Eventing.
Run in conjunction with the event since 1990 is the Burghley Young Event Horse final, which judges 4 and 5 year old horses on their potential as future Olympic mounts.
Horse trials have been held at Burghley House since 1961 when its owner the 6th Marquess of Exeter, an Olympic gold medalist in athletics and IOC member, heard that a three-day event at Harewood House could no longer be held. Since then no other international horse trials site has staged as many championships, a record ten in all including the first World Championship in 1966.
It is the longest continuous running international event. Up to 2006 there have been six course designers: Bill Thomson, M.R.C.V.S. 1961 – 1983, Lt-Col. Henry Nicoll, D.S.O., O.B.E., 1975, Philip Herbert 1984 – 1988, Captain Mark Phillips, C.V.O., 1989 – 1996 and 1998 – 2000, Mike Tucker 1997 and 2001, Wolfgang Feld 2002 – 2004 and Capt. Mark Phillips, C.V.O., 2005 -.
2016 - Chris Burton on Nobilis2015 - Michael Jung on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW2014 - Andrew Nicholson on Avebury2013 - Andrew Nicholson on Avebury2012 – Andrew Nicholson on Avebury2011 – William Fox-Pitt on Parklane Hawk2010 – Caroline Powell on Lenamore2009 – Oliver Townend on Carousel Quest2008 – William Fox-Pitt on Tamarillo2007 – William Fox-Pitt on Parkmore Ed2006 – Lucinda Fredericks on Headley Britannia2005 – William Fox-Pitt on Ballincoola2004 – Andrew Hoy on Moon Fleet2003 – Pippa Funnell on Primmore's Pride2002 – William Fox-Pitt on Highland Lad2001 – Blyth Tait on Ready Teddy2000 – Andrew Nicholson on Mr. Smiffy1999 – Mark Todd on Diamond Hall Red1998 – Blyth Tait on Chesterfield1997 – Mark Todd on Broadcast News1996 – Mary King on Star Appeal1995 – Andrew Nicholson on Buckley Province1994 – William Fox-Pitt on Chaka1993 – Stephen Bradley on Sassy Reason1992 – Charlotte Hollingsworth on The Cool Customer1991 – Mark Todd on Welton Greylag1990 – Mark Todd on Face the Music1989 – Virginia Leng on Master Craftsman1988 – Jane Thelwell on King's Jester1987 – Mark Todd on Wilton Fair1986 – Virginia Leng (née Holgate) on Murphy Himself1985 – Virginia Holgate on Priceless1984 – Virginia Holgate on Night Cap II1983 – Virginia Holgate on Priceless1982 – Richard Walker on Ryan's Cross1981 – Lucinda Prior-Palmer on Beagle Bay1980 – Richard Walker on John of Gaunt1979 – Andrew Hoy on Davey1978 – Lorna Clarke on Greco1977 – Lucinda Prior-Palmer on George1976 – Jane Holderness-Roddam on Warrior1975 – Aly Pattinson on Carawich1974 – Bruce Davidson on Irish Cap1973 – Captain Mark Phillips on Maid Marion1972 – Janet Hodgson on Larkspur1971 – H.R.H. Princess Anne on Doublet1970 – Judy Bradwell on Don Camillo1969 – Gillian Watson on Shaitan1968 – Sheila Willcox on Fair and Square1967 – Lorna Sutherland on Popadom1966 – Captain Carlos Moratorio on Chalan1965 – Captain J.J. Beale on Victoria Bridge1964 – Richard Meade on Barberry1963 – Captain Harry Freeman-Jackson on St. Finbarr1962 – Captain James Templer on M'Lord Connolly1961 – Anneli Drummond-Hay on Merely-A-Monarch
